i1patrick,

Go to a store that includes the Bose speakers you are interested in. Make 2 other choices in the store at the same price point. Tell them you want a side by side listen of the Bose and the 2 other speakers.

This is where it gets fun... because the store won't do it!!! They'll allow you to run between the Bose room, and their other demo room, but they won't do a true A/B comparison in the same space. Why do you think Bose makes their dealers conform to this policy? If the Bose systems really sound that much better, wouldn't they be fighting to be in the room with the other speakers for those A/B comparisons?

If you do the comparison, I think you'll understand why so many here have such disdain for Bose.